Delaware swimmers medal in L.A.

posted Tue, Jul 28, 2015 by Jon Buzby

Jane Long, left, reacts to her daughter, Robin, touching the wall and winning the gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly. Robin has won two gold medals at the World Games.

Ginger Shaud of the Sussex Riptide has won two silver medals and a sixth-place ribbon. (photo courtesy Special Olympics World Games)

Robin Long of the Newark Dragons shows off her gold medal, won in the 4 x 100-meter medley relay at the Special Olympics World Games. (photo courtesy Special Olympics World Games)

Jane and Robert Long enjoy the sights and sounds of the Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

Jane Long traveled all the way across the country to Los Angeles, crossing three time zones along the way, just in time for the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

It was well worth the trip.

“It was an absolutely incredible opening ceremony,” Jane shared shortly after the Saturday evening event to kick off the World Games. “Seeing Robin on TV on the jumbotron, the sea of color, I was so moved I had no words. The sound and energy was palpable, totally magic. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Another best experience would soon follow on Tuesday morning when her daughter, Robin, stood on top of the award stands as a gold-medal winner on the 4 x 100-meter medley relay team.

“We are ecstatic,” Jane texted after the medal ceremony. “Proud of her for all of her hard work and practice. And thankful to her coaches and teammates for their diligence, support and friendship.”

Robin’s quest for medals continued Tuesday afternoon in the finals of the 100 butterfly.

"I'm very nervous," her mom said in a text message just before the start of the race.

Those nerves were quickly settled when Robin touched the wall, winning her second gold medal.

"It was a total surprise,” Jane said. “We knew she worked really hard to get to this place, and you never know about the other athletes. It’s kind of surreal right now. We are trying to absorb it all.”

Robin went on to capture a third gold medal in the 100-meter breastroke and also finished fourth in the 200 freestlye.

Ginger Shaud was the first Delawarean to medal at the World Games, winning silver on Monday in the 4 x 100 medley relay.

"It was a close race," her mother, Karen, shared in a text message from Los Angeles. "She took five seconds off her time trial so it was a great effort!"

On Tuesday, Ginger followed that performance up with a sixth-place finish in the 100 freestyle and another silver medal, this time in the 100 backstroke. She capped off the Games with a bronze in the 100-meter freestyle.